Matrix Algebra

[Turtle]

Can someone explain to me how to use matrix algebra, to form a chemical equation?

[Tom Mattson]

Chemical equations are formed by experimentation, not mathematics. Can you be more explicit?

[Turtle]

I have a little article on it ,but it does not explain much.
In the article Ce+4, H20, CH2(CO2H)2 are the reactants and CO2, H+, Ce+3, HCO2H are the products.
The equation is CH2(C02H)2+2H2O+2xCe+4=(x-1)CO2+(4-x)HCO2H+2x-Ce+3+2xH+
How does one obtain the (x-1), (4-x), and the 2x?

[Tom Mattson]

Originally posted by Turtle
The equation is CH2(C02H)2+2H2O+2xCe+4=(x-1)CO2+(4-x)HCO2H+2x-Ce+3+2xH+


Sorry, but this makes no sense to me. I am assuming that "Ce+4" should be "Ce+4" and not "Ce plus 4".

Can you retype this using superscripts and subscripts?

[FZ+]

Turtle:

Please retype that using {sup} {/sup} and {sub}{/sub} so the forum can recognise it.

(Replace curlies with square brackets of course)

[MaximumTaco]

Charge has to balance, number of atoms on each side has to balance, so i'm sure you could get somewhere algebraically, i'm too tired to have a look right now, sorry.